Apparatus for removing and installing elevated light bulbs

ABSTRACT

An apparatus including an extendable (e.g., telescoping) pole with a handle at a first end and a light-bulb gripping unit at a second end. The gripping unit may include an adhesive member including a series of removal, disposable adhesive sheets having a “tacky” surface for controlling a light bulb during removal and installation. Different gripping units are configured for different light bulb types.

CROSS REFERENCE

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/398,728 filed Feb. 16, 2012 which isincorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The embodiments of the present invention relate to an apparatus forchanging light bulbs in elevated locations such as ceilings.

BACKGROUND

Exterior and indoor elevated lighting systems are very common andpopular. One disadvantage of elevated lighting systems, whether exterioror interior, is the inconvenience and danger related to changing theassociated light bulbs. For example, using a ladder to change elevatedlight bulbs is generally unsafe for people inexperienced at such tasks.The changing difficulties relate to any bulb type includingincandescent, flood and compact fluorescent.

Thus, there exists a need for an apparatus configured to allow users toremove and install elevated light bulbs conveniently and safely.

SUMMARY

The embodiments of the present invention relate to an apparatuscomprising broadly an extendable (e.g., telescoping) pole with a handleat a first end and a light-bulb gripping unit at a second end. In oneembodiment, the light-bulb gripping unit comprises an adhesive memberfor controlling a light bulb. In one embodiment, the gripping unitincludes an adhesive member having a series of removal, disposableadhesive sheets having a “tacky” surface for controlling a light bulbduring removal and installation. Different gripping units are configuredfor different light bulb types.

Other variations, embodiments and features of the present invention willbecome evident from the following detailed description, drawings andclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an apparatus for removing andinstalling elevated light-bulbs according to the embodiments of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 in astowed position according to the embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 3 a-3 d illustrate a perspective view of various gripping unitsaccording to the embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 4 a-4 c illustrate various light bulbs of the type which may beremoved and installed using the apparatus according to the embodimentsof the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates cross sections of various adhesive members accordingto the embodiments of the present invention; and

FIGS. 6 a-6 b illustrate gripping units comprising rippled and balledforms incorporating or coated with adhesives according to theembodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles inaccordance with the embodiments of the present invention, reference willnow be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specificlanguage will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless beunderstood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is therebyintended. Any alterations and further modifications of the inventivefeature illustrated herein, and any additional applications of theprinciples of the invention as illustrated herein, which would normallyoccur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of thisdisclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the inventionclaimed.

FIG. 1 shows an apparatus 100 for removing and installing light bulbs,normally from elevated locations such as exterior lights and interiorlights recessed in high ceilings. The apparatus 100 comprises broadly apole 105 with a handle 110 on a first end and a gripping unit 115 at asecond end. The handle 110 as shown includes finger indentations 120 toaccommodate a user's hand comfortably. The handle 110 may also includestriations 125 or similar tactile elements to improve a user's gripthereof.

A first end of the pole 105 inserts into the handle 110. As shown, thepole 105 is of a telescoping type including three, tapered pole sections106-1 through 106-3 which fit together in a frictional relationship.Other than a frictional telescoping mechanism, other telescoping systemsinclude turn and release and spring loaded systems or other any othersuitable telescoping systems. The pole 105 may be comprised of more orless than three sections. As shown in FIG. 2, pole section 106-3 insertsinto pole section 106-2 and both pole sections 106-3 and 106-2 insertinto pole section 106-1. A small clip or extension 130 may be integratedin said pole section 106-3 to allow a user to extend the pole sections106-1 through 106-3 from the stowed position shown in FIG. 2 to a fullyextended position (as shown in FIG. 1) or points between. The user mayalso be able to use the gripping unit 115 to extend the pole 105. Movingfrom an extended position to the stowed positioned may be accomplishedby using the clip 130 or simply pushing on the gripping unit 115 in thedirection of the handle 110.

A second end of the pole supports one or more removable gripping units115. In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3 a, the gripping unit 115-1 isformed as a parabola having a concave surface 116-1 configured tocontact a flood light bulb 200 (shown in FIG. 4 a). FIG. 3 b shows, inanother embodiment, an gripping unit 115-2 formed as a parabola having aconcave surface 116-2 (flatter and smaller than gripping unit 115-1)configured to contact an incandescent light bulb 205 (shown in FIG. 4b). FIG. 3 c shows, in another embodiment, an gripping unit 115-3 formedwith a flat member surface 116-3 to contact a top surface of afluorescent light bulb 210 (shown in FIG. 4 c). In another embodiment,shown in FIG. 3 d, an gripping unit 115-4 includes flat member surface116-4 and side walls 112 configured to grab sides of the fluorescentlight bulb 210. The greater the surface area contact between thegripping unit 115 and light bulb the greater the ability for a user tocreate torque to remove and install said light bulb. Attaching andremoving said gripping units 115 is facilitated by any number of meansincluding two or more spring-biased pins 107-1 through 107-4 integratedwithin extensions 108-1 through 108-4 and positioned to insert into twoor more corresponding openings in said pole 105, namely section 106-3.

In one embodiment, the gripping units 115-1 through 115-4 include anadhesive member formed as a series of grouped sheets 117-1 through 117-Nhaving at least one contact surface coated, integrated or incorporatedwith an adhesive. The series of grouped sheets 117-1 through 117-Nattach to said surfaces 116-1 through 116-4. The adhesive sheets 117-1through 117-N provides means for allowing a user to control the lightbulb by placing the surfaces 116-1 through 116-4 of the gripping units115-1 through 115-4 in contact with the light bulb thereby connectingthe apparatus 100 to the light bulb. By turning the apparatus 100 viathe handle 110, the user is able to remove or install an elevated lightbulb. Once an adhesive layer on an exposed sheet 117-1 through 117-N isworn away, the sheet 117-1 through 117-N may be removed to reveal a newsheet 117-1 through 117-N. Once all sheets 117-1 through 117-N have beenexhausted, a new series of grouped sheets may be may be joined thereto.The series of grouped sheets 117-1 through 117-N may attach to thegripping units 115 using hook and loop fasteners, adhesives, clips,screws or similar fasteners permitting the removal and connection of thegrouped sheets 117-1 through 117-N.

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of gripping unit 115-3 havinglayered adhesive sheets 117-1 through 117-N as described above. It isalso contemplated that the gripping unit 115 may hold a single adhesivesheet which when exhausted is replaced with a new adhesive sheet. Asused throughout this document, the term sheet includes flat, wrinkled,rippled and balled forms of material integrated, coated, incorporated orcovered with an adhesive. FIGS. 6 a-6 b show exemplary one time adhesivemembers in the form of usage sheets in rippled 121 and balled forms 122on gripping unit 115-3, respectively. In one embodiment, the adhesivesheets 117-1 through 117-N are fabricated of heat resistant materials toprevent damage in the event a user seeks to remove a “hot” light bulb(e.g., incandescent bulb).

While a telescoping or extendible pole is detailed throughout thisdetailed description, in an alternative embodiment, a non-telescopingpole of any length may be used. Alternatively, the handle may attachdirectly to the gripping unit. In one embodiment, a short pole or nopole and a handle facilitates the removal of light bulbs, for example,by a user on a lift seeking to remove numerous commercial light bulbs.

Pressure sensitive adhesive applied to film, cloth, metal, plastic orsimilar substrate materials produce suitable sheets for facilitating theembodiments of the present invention. In another embodiment, heatactivated adhesives may be applied to film, cloth, metal, plastic orsimilar substrate materials produce suitable sheets for facilitating theremoval of “hot” bulbs. Applicant has found that hot melt rubber resinused on packing tape manufactured and sold by 3M® is a suitableadhesive. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other adhesivesare suitable for the embodiments of the present invention.

Although the invention has been described in detail with reference toseveral embodiments, additional variations and modifications existwithin the scope and spirit of the invention as described and defined inthe following claims.

I claim:
 1. An apparatus comprising: a telescoping pole, wherein asecond end of said telescoping pole is configured to removably receivetwo or more gripping units interchangeably; a gripping unit configuredto be received by said pole and further configured to remove and installa light bulb; wherein said gripping unit includes an adhesive memberwith multiple disposable sheets each having at least one surface atleast partially coated with an adhesive.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1wherein said gripping unit is configured to remove one of the following:(i) flood light bulbs; (ii) incandescent light bulbs; and (iii) compactfluorescent light bulbs.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein saidgripping unit includes a concave surface configured to retain a floodlight bulb.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said gripping unitincludes a concave surface configured to retain an incandescent lightbulb.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said gripping unit includes aflat surface.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said one or moresheets are in a rippled form.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein afirst one of said one or more sheets is in a ball form.
 8. The apparatusof claim 1 further comprising another gripping unit configured to bereceived by said pole, the two gripping units interchangeably receivedby said pole, wherein the two gripping units are configured to removeand install different light bulb types, and wherein said anothergripping unit includes an adhesive member formed of one or more sheets,each of said one or more sheets at least partially containing anadhesive for contacting a light bulb and retaining said light bulb forinstallation and removal.